Remote actuated pollution and oil flow control system

ABSTRACT

The position of a high-low valve on oil wells is remotely controlled and monitored from a distant control station in order to either shut the said valve or other associated valves and controls in case of severe environmental oil pollution/emergency conditions, or to open it during otherwise inaccessible periods or to remote control it at all times in order to conserve manpower. Such cases cover possibilities of oil leakage at a well, and failure of the usually provided shutoff valves at the well head.

United States Patent Hayre [151 3,697,952 [451 Oct. 10, 1972 [54] REMOTEACTUATED POLLUTION 3,413,605 11/1968 Abramson ..340/163 AND OIL FLOWCONTROL SYSTEM v 3,413,606 11/1968 Chicanowicz ..340/163 [72] Inventor:Harbhajan Singh Hay, 10 Legend 3,444,521 5/1969 Breese ..340/163 LaneHouston 77024 Primary Examiner-Harold I. Pitts [22] Filed: June 8, 1970Attorney-Pravel, Wilson and Matthews [21] Appl. No.: 44,075 [57]ABSTRACT The position of a high-low valve on oil wells is remote- C l340/147 340/235,! ly controlled and monitored from a distant controlsta- 58] d I163 147 tion in order to either shut the said valve or otheras- 0 ea sociated valves and controls in case of severe environmentaloil pollution/emergency conditions, or to open [56] References Cited itduring otherwise inaccessible periods or to remote UNlTED STATES PATENTScontrol it at all times in order to conserve manpower. Such cases coverpossibilities of oil leakage at a well, 3,337,992 8/1967 Tolson..343/225 and failure of the usually provided shutoff valves at3,371,316 2/1968 Johnson ..343/228 X, the we head 3,384,874 5/1968Morley ..340/163 3,402,391 9/1968 Howard ..340/ l 63 5 Claims, 2 DrawingFigures "2 1" M d r munmm 5:22; :ucoun "Alumina 7 ou'rrurs I i ANTINIIAr on COMMAND rls Position IIIIIG SIGNAL cmcun' 4 ll lO f. f. f

men- Low ou-orr nounrrv VAL": communal! GOIIMD DIM" coon G ACTUAIOIllfllll. ang

SATELLITE WELL [STATION (RAPOCS) REMOTE ACTUATED POLLUTION AND OIL FLOWCONTROL SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present invention relates toremotely controlling and monitoring the position of a valve in an oilwell to prevent leakage and spillage of fluids from the well.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The position of a high-low valve on oil wells isremotely controlled and monitored from a distant control station inorder to either shut the said valve or other associated valves andcontrols in case of severe environmental oil pollution/emergencyconditions, or to open it during otherwise inaccessible periods or toremote control it at all times in order to conserve manpower. Such casescover possibilities of oil leakage at a well, and failure of theusuallyprovided shutoff valves at the well head.

The system utilizes secret code for sets of wells to distinguish a setof wells belonging to one owner from those of another owner usingsimilar equipment. Furthermore, each well in a set has an identity-codedsignal in order for it to be controlled as opposed to any other well inthe same set. The remote-actuated pollution and oil control system(RAPOCS) operates at the particular radio frequency in the HF range of3-30 megahertz, in general at the lower end of this range when utilizedin urban areas as opposed to telemetry and other very-high frequencies(VI-IF) (30-300 megahertz) or ultra-high frequencies (UI-IF) (300-3000megahertz). The RAPOCS is designed to operate at the only controlfrequency corresponding to range and environmental requirements. Amongnumerous other uses of RAPOCS are, for example, remote meteringapplications in the field of public utilities or other such public andcommercial services.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The system includes one centralplatform/station, which may be either mobile or stationary, and one ormore satellite well/stations. Blockdiagrams for each of the two types ofstations are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a preferred satellite well/station of thesystem of the invention; and

FlG. 2 is a block diagram of a preferred central platform/station of thesystem of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1, a typical satellitewell/station (RAPOCS) is shown. An antenna 6, which is designed to bevery highly directional in the case of the present pollution and oilcontrol application, receives the signal from a central platform/stationshown in FIG. 2. A receiver section of the satellite well/stationincluding an identity coded receiver 7, being set in on the onorreadycondition, in a manner to be set forth hereinbelow, receives thesignal after such signal passes through the transmit-receive switch 5.

A set of wells belonging to a particular owner are identified ascomprising one system of wells by a portion of a secret address code,with the remaining portion of the address code being used toidentity-code each well in a set and permit such well to be controlledby a command signal of the code signal, as will be more evident below,without causing operation of other wells in the same set. An end ofmessage code is added at the end of the code signal for reasons to bemore evident hereinbelow. The secret address code may be a digital codeor a frequency code or other conventional suitable coding techniques maybe used if desired.

The identify coded receiver 7 in the satellite well/station receives thecode signal from the switch 5 and amplifies it. An identity code checkstage of the identitycoded receiver 7 checks the code of the signal andproduces an output signal only if the received signal is the correctsecret address code which belongs to its system. The signal must also beidentity coded for the particular satellite station in a particularsystem in order that such satellite station can be controlled aso'pposed to other wells in the same set or system. Unless the properdigital address code for the station and system is received, the outputof the receiver 7 is zero and the system does not receive the commandsignal from the central platform station of FIG. 2, and accordingly doesnot respond.

An output signal, present at the output terminals of the identity codedreceiver 7 in response to the receipt of the proper address codedsignal, contains command information of the command signal in codedformat, preferably binary, indicative of the command requested by thecentral platform station of the satellite well station. A decoder 8decodes this signal to determine the message of the command signal. Acommand signal converter 9 receives the signal from the decoder 8 andproduces an appropriate command signal compatible with the equipmentcontrolled at the particular satellite subsystem. The command signalconverter 9 further provides a signal to a timing circuit 13 in responseto an end of message signal reception as indicated by the end of messagecode, for reasons to be more evident hereinbelow.

The command signal from the converter 9 is further furnished to acomparator 10. A second input of the comparator 10 is an off-on positionsignal formed in a position indicating signal converter 12 andindicating the position of the equipment controlled, in this embodimenta high-low valve 11.

The output of the comparator 10 is zero when the command signal from theconverter 9 coincides with the position signal output of the converter12. The output of the comparator 10 is a positive direct current (dc)level when the output signals from the comparators l0 and 12 do notcoincide. The output of the comparator 10, which may be eitherzero orpositive dc in level, as has been set forth hereinabove, is fed into anelectrically actuated mechanism to change the position of the high-lowvalve 11 to that desired by the command signal as well as to correspondto the output of the comparator 10.

The final position of the high-low valve 11, as indicated by theposition signal indicator 12, is furnished to a multiplexer l. Themultiplexer 1 may receive many other sensor outputs which may be time orfrequency multiplexed, as desired. The multiplexed signals are thenfurnished to a signal conditioner 2 for appropriate signal conditioningand furnished to an encoded 3 for encoding in a signal encoder portion,to encode the position signal indicating the position of the valve 11,

and a satellite identity encoder portion of the encoder 3 which adds anidentity-coded signal in order to indicate the particular satellitewell/station and the set or system to which the particular satellitewell/station belongs. The coded output of the encoder 3 is thentransmitted by a transmitter 4 after passing through the transmitreceiveswitch 5 via the antenna 6.

The timing circuit 13 receives the on-command output from the on-offcommand signal converter 9, as has been previously set forth, andfurnishes an on-command signal to the multiplexer l, as is evident fromFIG. 1, and further activates the receiver 7 after a transmission fromthe satellite well station is completed in order that the nextsubsequent signal from a central platform station may be received.

In FIG. 2, a typical central platform station is shown. The centralplatform station has a clock interval generator 1 which operates in anautomatic mode (with provision for a manual override as is evident fromthe drawings), and generates a timing sequence: for turning on atransmitter section including a command generator 2, an encoder 3, and asequential transmitter 4; and for turning the transmitter section offafter completion of the transmission. After completion of thetransmission, the clock interval generator then turns on a receivingportion including an identity coded receiver 7, a decoder 8, a signalconditioner 9 and a demultiplexer l0.

Upon receipt of the turn-on signal from the clock interval generator 1,the command generator 2 generates the necessary digital command signal,either to open the high-low valve, or to shut the high-low valve at thesatellite well. Additional commands which might be generated includecommands to report the current position of the high-low valve or othersensors at the satellite/well station.

The command signal from the command generator 2 is then encoded and theaddress of the particular satellite station receiving the signal isidentity encoded to identify the particular well in the set to becontrolled and distinguished from other wells in the same set in anidentity encoding portion of the encoder 3. The command signal isfurther secret address-coded, using the secret code for the set of wellsto which the satellite/well station belongs, in order to permit controlof such particular satellite/well.

The secret and identity encoding in the encoder 3 further insures thatthe transmission from the central platform station is secured in thepresence of any other interfering signals for other sets of wells usingsimilar equipment. As has been set forth with respect to the satellitewell, an end of message signal is added in the encoder 3 to indicatethat the message is completed.

The coded signal from the encoder 3 is now made ready for sequentialtransmission from the transmitter 4 through the transmit-receive switch5 in an antenna 6. Each satellite identity coded transmission so formedand transitted is followed by turning off the transmitter section andturning on the receiver section by the clock interval generator 1, ashas been previously set forth. Thus, the transmitter-on and receiver-onsequence is repeated for subsequent satellite well/stations untiltransmission to each desired one of the satellite well/stations withinthe transmit-receive sequence is completed.

During receiver-on operations in the receiver portion of the centralplatform station, the secret signal, having the information signal, anidentity coded signal for the satellite well/station, and a secretaddress code for the particular set of wells formed in the manner setforth hereinabove, is received through the antenna 6 and thetransmit-receive circuit 5 and passed to the identity coded receiver 7.If the signal is from a satellite station within the set or system, suchsignal is identity decoded in the receiver 7 and passed to aninformation decoder 8 which decodes the information signal indicatingthe position of the valve at the satellite station and furnishes suchsignal to a signal conditioner 9. The output of the signal conditioner 9is furnished to a demultiplexer 10 and the output information from thedemultiplexer 10 may be displayed on a meter 11, a tape recorder 12, orremote transmitted to another system 13, as desired.

Each of the blocks set forth in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings is atypical, commercially available off-theshelf item. Further, each of thetransmission and receiving portions thereof may be adapted to theparticular frequency of operation desired. The particular codes used insecret coding and identity coding of the set and satellite signals,respectively, are formed for each individual satellite and set insuitable distinctive codes of the type previously set forth.

The following chart lists suitable equipment for use in the preferredembodiment of the invention, although it should be understood that otherunits may be used.

SPECIFIC EQUIPMENT FOR FIGS. 1 8L 2 Remote Actuated Pollution and OilControl System Block Number FIG. 1 FIG. 2 2,3 1,2,3

Description Motorola No. AR-8l-MAR-Y-- Multi Input Encoder (6sensors/unit) Johnston Transmitter Viking- 2(for AM and continuouswave)l-lewlett Packard No. 606A, 8403, 8730 (for CW, AM, or FM)Reference Data for Radio Engineers, Fourth Edition, I956, page 427Vertical Monopole with Matching Coil for Appropriate Frequency-25 ft.

a. Collins Receiver Model 51 8-] (CW or AM) b. Motorola C-lOlO-DigitalDecoder and Printer Multiple Contact Relay-Potter and Brumfield No.MHGPDT Solenoid Operated Valve ASCO No. 8223A4 Position ControlledContact- Potter and Brumfield No. MGl 1D Data Pulse No. 106A a. acentral station for controlling and motoring conditions at a remotestation, comprising:

. transmitter means for sending command signals receiver section meansat the central station for receiving and monitoring signals indicatingthe position of the valve from the remote station,

said central station receiver section means for receiving comprising:

i. means for decoding an incoming received signal to determine theidentity of the sending station of such signal;

ii. means for decoding the incoming received signal to determine themessage in such signal; and

iii. means for displaying the message of the incoming signal; and

b. at least one remote station having an oil well associated therewith,comprising:

l. a valve with the oil well having open and closed positions;

2. means for receiving the command signals from said central station,said means for receiving changing the position of said valve inaccordance with the command signals, said remote station means forreceiving comprising:

i. means for receiving an incoming command signal;

ii. means for checking the incoming command signal to determine if suchsignal is from the proper central station, said means for checkingproviding an output signal in response to a signal from the propercentral station;

iii. means for decoding the received command signal to determine themessage of such command signal;

iv. means responsive to the decoded signal for providing a commandsignal to operate said valve;

v. means for generating a signal indicative of the position of saidvalve; and

vi. means for comparing the signal indicative of the position of saidvalve with the command 55 signal, said means for comparing forming anoutput signal indicative of the coincidence of the compared signals andof the position of said valve; and 3. means for transmitting signalsindicating the position of said valve to said central station,comprising: i. means for encoding the signal indicative of the positionof said valve; and ii. means for transmitting the encoded signal. Thestructure of claim 1, wherein said remote station receiver sectioncomprises:

electrically actuated means for changing the position of the said valveto correspond to the position indicated by the output signal of saidmeans for comparing.

The structure of claim 1, wherein said control station receiver sectioncomprises:

means for recording the message of the incoming signal. The structure ofclaim 1, further including:

timing circuit means for activating said remote station means forreceiving after transmission of the output signal by said remote stationtransmitter section.

A method of monitoring and controlling the position of a valve in an oilwell to prevent leakage an spillage of fluids from the well, comprisingthe steps of:

encoding a command signal;

b. sending the command signal in the frequency range of from 5 to 20megahertz from a central station to a remote station having an oil wellassociated therewith;

. receiving the command signal from the central station at the remotestation;

decoding the received command signal to determine the identity of thesending central station;

. changing the position of the valve in accordance with the commandsignal;

. forming a signal indicative of the position of the h. forming acommand signal when the signals compared during said step of comparingdo not coincide;

i. changing the position of the valve to correspond to the positiondictated by the command signal;

transmitting the position signal from the remote station indicating theposition of the valve;

k. receiving at the central station the position signal transmitted fromthe remote station; and

l. monitoring the position signal received at the central station.

1. A system for monitoring and controlling the position of a valve in anoil well to prevent leakage and spillage of fluids from the well,comprising: a. a central station for controlling and motoring conditionsat a remote station, comprising:
 1. transmitter means for sendingcommand signals to the remote station to control and determine theposition of the valve, said central station transmitter meanscomprising: i. means for generating a command signal to determine theposition of a valve in the well; ii. means for encoding the commandsignal to maintain the signal secure from interference; iii. means fortransmitting the encoded signal; and iv. means for activating a receiversection at the central station subsequent to transmission of the encodedcommand signal; and
 2. receiver section means at the central station forreceiving and monitoring signals indicating the position of the valvefrom the remote station, said central station receiver section means forreceiving comprising: i. means for decoding an incoming received signalto determine the identity of the sending station of such signal; ii.means for decoding the incoming received signal to determine the messagein such signal; and iii. means for displaying the message of theincoming signal; and b. at least one remote station having an oil wellassociated therewith, comprising:
 1. a valve with the oil well havingopen and closed positions;
 2. means for receiving the command signalsfrom said central station, said means for receiving changing theposition of said valve in accordance with the command signals, saidremote station means for receiving comprising: i. means for receiving anincoming command signal; ii. means for checking the incoming commandsignal to determine if such signal is from the proper central station,said means for checking providing an output signal in response to asignal from the proper central station; iii. means for decoding thereceived cOmmand signal to determine the message of such command signal;iv. means responsive to the decoded signal for providing a commandsignal to operate said valve; v. means for generating a signalindicative of the position of said valve; and vi. means for comparingthe signal indicative of the position of said valve with the commandsignal, said means for comparing forming an output signal indicative ofthe coincidence of the compared signals and of the position of saidvalve; and
 3. means for transmitting signals indicating the position ofsaid valve to said central station, comprising: i. means for encodingthe signal indicative of the position of said valve; and ii. means fortransmitting the encoded signal.
 2. receiver section means at thecentral station for receiving and monitoring signals indicating theposition of the valve from the remote station, said central stationreceiver section means for receiving comprising: i. means for decodingan incoming received signal to determine the identity of the sendingstation of such signal; ii. means for decoding the incoming receivedsignal to determine the message in such signal; and iii. means fordisplaying the message of the incoming signal; and b. at least oneremote station having an oil well associated therewith, comprising: 2.means for receiving the command signals from said central station, saidmeans for receiving changing the position of said valve in accordancewith the command signals, said remote station means for receivingcomprising: i. means for receiving an incoming command signal; ii. meansfor checking the incoming command signal to determine if such signal isfrom the proper central station, said means for checking providing anoutput signal in response to a signal from the proper central station;iii. means for decoding the received cOmmand signal to determine themessage of such command signal; iv. means responsive to the decodedsignal for providing a command signal to operate said valve; v. meansfor generating a signal indicative of the position of said valve; andvi. means for comparing the signal indicative of the position of saidvalve with the command signal, said means for comparing forming anoutput signal indicative of the coincidence of the compared signals andof the position of said valve; and
 2. The structure of claim 1, whereinsaid remote station receiver section comprises: electrically actuatedmeans for changing the position of the said valve to correspond to theposition indicated by the output signal of said means for comparing. 3.The structure of claim 1, wherein said control station receiver sectioncomprises: means for recording the message of the incoming signal. 3.means for transmitting signals indicating the position of said valve tosaid central station, comprising: i. means for encoding the signalindicative of the position of said valve; and ii. means for transmittingthe encoded signal.
 4. The structure of claim 1, further including:timing circuit means for activating said remote station means forreceiving after transmission of the output signal by said remote stationtransmitter section.
 5. A method of monitoring and controlling theposition of a valve in an oil well to prevent leakage an spillage offluids from the well, comprising the steps of: a. encoding a commandsignal; b. sending the command signal in the frequency range of from 5to 20 megahertz from a central station to a remote station having an oilwell associated therewith; c. receiving the command signal from thecentral station at the remote station; d. decoding the received commandsignal to determine the identity of the sending central station; e.changing the position of the valve in accordance with the commandsignal; f. forming a signal indicative of the position of the valve; g.comparing the signal indicative of the position of the valve with thereceived command signal; h. forming a command signal when the signalscompared during said step of comparing do not coincide; i. changing theposition of the valve to correspond to the position dictated by thecommand signal; j. transmitting the position signal from the remotestation indicating the position of the valve; k. receiving at thecentral station the position signal transmitted from the remote station;and l. monitoring the position signal received at the central station.